Rentmeesterschap

Chapter 1: Living in Balance with Nature.

There weren't always dragons in the valley. Arabella explained it all immediately after everything calmed down. We were both panting and frightened. It was all my fault.

I had just spied the first cabbage moth. No time to waste. I reached for my pressure sprayer filled with garlic water ready to coat the rows of my young plants before the moths could lay the eggs that would grow into crop-destroying caterpillars. I pumped the handle six times and then aimed the nozzle under the first cabbage. I was ready to spray all around the base of the plant and then lightly mist the top. As soon as I pulled the trigger, I was surrounded by large insects with pairs of gossamer wings. In seconds, some landed on my arms. A few flew around my head. Most hovered all around ready to strike. I heard the buzzing sounds of the thousand beating wings. And, strangely, I thought I heard sounds like voices.

“Je gatt ons vermoordern.”

“Je maakt ons ziek.”

“Je vermoordt ons!”

And finally something I could understand: “”Helpen” and finally “Stop.” I did stop and set the sprayer on the ground. I sat down too, my heart was beating fast. This was very strange. As I put the sprayer on the ground, one of the insects landed gently on my hand.

“Hello. Thank you for stopping. You frightened us all very badly”

“Well, you all frightened me as well. What’s going on?” I thought it seemed strange to speak to an insect.

And the insect responded quickly, “Yes, I can see how you think it strange to speak with us. We’re not here to hurt you.”

“Wait a minute? I didn’t say that out loud. You can read my mind? “

“Yes, we can. My name is Arabella and I am the chief of this clan. Those who believe in us dragons can converse with us without attracting the attention of those who aren’t welcoming or appreciative of our experience and the help we can provide. We dragons have found over the ages that it makes useful communication easier.”

She flew up and looked me directly in the eye. “We’ve been working and living here for a very, very long time. In our language it is called ‘rentmeesterschap.’ The closest to your words is ‘stewardship.’ We’ve helped generations of your family and others. Sometimes with their awareness. Sometimes in spite of their stubbornness. I thought it would be safe to bring the younger dragons out to your patch this day so they could learn. You’ve disappointed and frightened us, Marianne.”

“You know my name? How?”

“Oh, your Oma thought you’d fit into our world.”

I was stunned. Oma never said anything about dragons to me. She always seemed too … well.. sensible. For a grandmother she didn’t have much time for playing or fairy stories. Well, this certainly isn’t a fairy story. It is real, these dragons are real and it sounds as though they’ve made a significant impact on the success of our farm gardens.

I looked at the flock of hundreds of dragons of several sizes, it was easy to see now that they weren’t insects. They had folded their lacy wings along their spines under a pale green cover. They had four legs and some were standing up on just their hind legs balancing with a tail behind. Their long faces resembled salamanders with large eyes, slightly flattened nose, and a wide mouth.

As I sat, the dragons gathered about me sitting on the leaves and developing heads of cabbage. “But why are you concerned about the spraying? We’re totally organic. It is just garlic water.”

“Would you like to small like garlic?”

I had to laugh. “Nope, I wouldn't.”

Arabella nodded toward a dark green dragon. “Max will explain.” A deep voice filled my head, speaking slowly. “We leven in pefecte balans met de natur.” He stopped and shook his head as though to clear his thoughts. “Ah, sorry. I’ll start again your language. You see we live by the rules of balance in all things natural. As to your cabbages, we’ve found this patch to be the prefect place for us to live in the summer. We let the moths lay their eggs and then we pick off the tiny yellow eggs and eat them. We leave enough for their species to survive. We move on to other crops as the seasons change.”

I could see how that would make sense. “So you’ve been here forever?”

“No. I’ll explain,” Max continued. “Our ancestors came with your family when they moved from Holland many, many years ago.”

“My folks arrived here in Iowa in the 1840s. They were in New York long before that.”

“We don’t calculate years the same as you.” Arabella said, nodding to me and to the number of dragons, large and small who had gathered on the cabbages and the ground, even hovering in the air.

Max nodded, “Yes, yes. Most of the years we, and the other clans, have helped without the humans knowing. Then the bad years came. The cabbages and other crops were sprayed with poisons. It took us a while, and cost many dragons their lives, before we fully understood what we had to do to survive. How we did have to communicate. We thought we had it all worked out these past few years. There are enough humans now who can and do listen to us. Have you noticed how organic gardening is increasing?”

I nodded. “Yes it is quite the thing. Popular with people who care about what they eat.”

“Yes,” Arabella interrupted. “However the one who came before you in this garden was difficult.”

I had to laugh. “That would be my brother David. Difficult is exactly right. He doesn't listen to our parents sometimes and he never listens to me.”

“It took us two seasons before he would open his mind to our methods so he could live with nature and have a good crop.”

“I remember. Dad was really aggravated at him. These cabbages are the prize crop at our farmer’s market stand. People come from miles around to get the really big ones. And the money David earned was for his college fund. Now that I am about to enter high school the cabbage patch is mine to manage. So it is important to have the best, biggest, and healthiest cabbages we can. David’s first two years were dismal. I sure don’t want to follow in his path.”

Several of the dragons twittered and flew up and down to agree.

I looked at my watch. Time to head in for supper, or I’d have questions to answer. I looked Arabella in the eyes. “Thank you for all your help. There will still be weeding to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The dragons flew up and scattered over the field. If you didn’t know you’d think they were dragonflies.

I had a lot to think about as I walked back to the house. Clearly David had known about the dragons. He had not said a word to me when he talked me through management of the cabbage patch. I’d have to talk to him. But there was a thought that niggled at the back of my mind. Somehow these wonderful creatures seemed familiar. Was I sure I’d never seen them before?

By the time I reached home, I’d changed my mind. I decided to do as David had done, and not say anything. Still the wonder of my afternoon’s conversations with Arabella and the others floated in my brain. There was one place to look for an answer. I hoped I was right. After supper I went into my bedroom and turned on the closet light. I reached into the back of my closet and pulled out the box of keepsakes my Oma had set aside for me. I’d stored it for safety up on the top shelf. Grandma had lived in a small “grandparent” house behind the house we lived in. She and Opa moved there when mother and father married and moved into the main farmhouse. After my grandfather died I saw her every day. We worked in the gardens. We watched the birds in summer and winter. She taught me to cook favorite Dutch dishes. She died four years ago when I was ten.

Oma had left me the keepsakes box. I had a feeling there might be a clue inside to the memory that was lingering below the surface of my mind. The box is about a foot square and filled with trinkets and tokens of the days we spent together. I hadn’t looked in it since just after she passed away. But I had kept it safe. As I opened the lid of the wooden box I could smell the scent of her lily of the valley perfume. I began pulling out the precious contents. Not that they were really valuable, They were priceless to me. On top was one of her linen handkerchiefs the source of the scent. I pulled out two pairs of earrings in a small velvet box. I’d wear them someday. They were too fancy for high school not to mention farm fields. Oma’s favorite bright red bead necklace might come in handy though. I leafed through her Field Guide to American Birds. Its dog-eared pages softened by countless days in the fields. There were rocks we’d picked up by the stream and a notebook of pressed field flowers.

A string-tied packet of file cards was under the books. I pulled it out. Ah, yes, I recognized them. They were Oma’s handwritten recipe cards. Of course mother and I had all the recipes in a computer file. These were in her hand. I was glad to have them batter spattered from years of cooking. I flipped through the stack seeing some favorite dishes. Then I stopped. There was an envelope in the middle of the cards. I pulled it out. I’d never noticed it before. It was sealed shut. I carefully lifted the flap, trying not to tear it. Inside was a letter and, to my amazement a folded up crayon drawing. As I read, it became clear that Oma’s letter was not just a casual note. It was a serious request filled with hope. And it contained that child’s drawing—my drawing. I didn’t remember making it, but after today I recognized the subject. I’d made a pretty good portrait of a dragon.

Oma wrote: “Dearest Marianne, You were three when you brought me this drawing. You probably didn’t notice how it took my breath away when you gave it to me. You certainly didn’t understand what it meant. Maybe you know by now. You have the gift of communication and trust. You’ve drawn an image of one of the clan of dragons—yes, my dear, dragons!—who have helped us care for our fields and orchards for hundreds of years. Not everyone can see them. Fewer can hear and communicate with them. I am one of those who are blessed as was my grandmother. I think you are one, too. They will find you when you are ready. Listen to them. They have the wisdom of the ages and the insights to help with modern problems. Someday this will mean something to you, if it hasn’t already. The dragons have done more than we deserve to have saved us and our neighbors. I hope we won’t have to call on them again, but often they, and the other clans around the world have known the problem before we do. And have been disappointed in our actions. I know you will do your best. I love you always, Oma. "

I put the other things back in the box and returned it to the closet shelf. I put the letter and drawing back in the envelop and hid it under the winter sweaters in my chest of drawers. No one would find it there. I had a lot to think about and to talk about with Arabella and the others.

Over the next month our crops grew and I came to know many of the dragons by name and skill. Arabella was the clan leider. Max was the beheerder, who organized all to understand and carry out their mission to live a environmentally-balanced life. Docent Johan taught the younger dragons. Louisa, the geleerda, studied the changes in the environment and emerging risks. Hans, known as the vector, was the daredevil, willing to undertake risks and communicate with other dragon clans.

As I hoed, pulled weeds, and fertilized the cabbages, all with Arabella’s approval she and the others told me of the clan’s adventures here and before they came. They told me tales of great successes in Holland and other European countries. Sometimes there were horrible failures. Max never forgave the stubborn Irish leprechauns for not listening. The result was the Irish Potato Famine. Hans described the great battles they had fought until they had made peace centuries ago with the dragons in China, Europe, Central and South America.

Once they arrived here, in North America, things were different. Louisa explained how they were welcomed by the indigenous dragons. “They had been here for centuries and worked in harmony with the land, climate, creatures, and most important the people who had also been living with the land for longer than any of them could remember or record.”

She smiled, “We had much to learn from them and your family has benefited from their vast knowledge. We all have.”

Arabella explained the importance of all these clans. “You see, somehow we have come to live in harmony in the regions where most of the world’s food has been raised.

Max continued the saga, “As with you and your Oma, some of the people in those cultures fully understood our mission.”

Arabella interrupted, “Our joint responsibility to feed the people.”

“Of course,” Max continued. “You can see evidence of this in the art work—paintings, sculptures, ceramics, tapestries, even the sides of buildings from China to the Mayan art in Central America, European designs and sagas are filled with dragons.”

I knew a little about what they were saying. “Yes, I understand. I went to an exhibit of century’s old works at the arts center—it is amazing. Dragons all over Chinese pottery, tapestry, and paintings.”

“Exactly, the world’s leading producer of rice.” Arabella completed the explanation. “And central Europe is a leading producer of wheat. The Americas, including this country, produce more corn and soybeans. So we’re a key part of working with nature around the world to feed as many as we can.”

Louisa interrupted. “If we can continue. We’re having to work hard to combat the changes in climate around the world. We can cooperate and control a great many things, but not the weather.”

“Now Louisa, we’ve talked about this. We will find a way. We always have.” Max spoke to calm her down.

I doubted he’d be successful for long. She was a very intense dragon. Her skin changed from peaceful green to intense, worried red more often than any of the others.

We continued working in harmony for several weeks as the cabbages grew healthfully and I began to take some of the littler ones to market. I was surprised when David showed up the cabbage patch one morning. The dragons quickly scurried and flew into hiding.

He pulled out a small whistle and blew a soft tone then called out. “Hey guys, it’s me. I won’t hurt you.”

Arabella flew up and hovered right in front of his nose. I could hear words to him in my mind, too. First she chewed him out for not telling me about them, or at least warning me not to spray. Then she chided him for not coming to visit. His explanation of being “all tied up with his special hybrid sweet corn and the 4H contest crop” wasn't good enough to satisfy her ire. But then she noticed that his eyes were filling with tears. I noticed, too.

Normally he isn’t an emotional guy. He’s always ready with a joke to shift the subject. “David, what’s wrong?”

He cleared his throat and wiped his face with his handkerchief trying to disguise his now obvious concerns and tears. “Yah, well. Here’s the thing. I think we’ve got a real problem and I wanted to warn you guys,” He gestured over the field. “And maybe see if you can help.”

He sat down at the edge of the field. “I think we need all of the leaders here, If you can get them to come, please.”

In less than a minute we were facing all the clan’s leadership. Many of the other dragons settled on the rows of ripening cabbages behind them. I sat next to my brother at the edge of the field. He reached into the backpack he’s brought along and pulled out a small plastic garbage bag. He put on a pair of disposable gloves as he put the bag on the ground.

“You’d all better move away a bit.” He pulled the top of the bag open and we could see it was filled with dead birds. “I’m sorry to have to show you this, but I didn’t think you’d believe me unless I brought the evidence.”

Hans said sharply, “You got that right.”

“Look I said I was sorry for the dumb stuff I did a few years ago. I was just a stupid kid.” David spoke with a tone so sincere that it frightened me, too. I’d never heard his voice this way. He was nearly panicked.

Several of the older dragons murmured in agreement. “Look, he said, “this is really scary.”

Arabella took charge with her most calming voice. “So, David, tell us what is happening. Take your time. We know now that you care about us and that you’ve learned from us over these past years. We believe that you have something you think is important to tell us.”

David closed up the bag, returned it to the backpack, tossed in the gloves, and even pulled out a sanitizing wipe for his hands. He took a deep breath and began. “So you all know about my corn field, right?” He paused and saw that the leaders were nodding. “Well yesterday morning Ken, Mike, and I were all down at our half-acre plots comparing the progress. Just kind of joshing each other. Frank joined us and he was really worried. He begged us to come and look at his contest field over in the next block. So we went over and were just … I donno .. just stunned. The edge of the field was littered with dozens of dead birds, all kinds. The corn ears were blistered and black, like they were filled with burned popped corn.”

Now the dragons looked worried, too. They began talking among themselves.

David and I couldn’t understand. They were speaking so fast and in Dutch. David continued. “Listen guys, we tried to do some research. We all looked at as may internet sources as we could think of. We’ve been up most of the night emailing and texting. None of us has an answer except to think it might be some kind of disease related to smut. And if it is, that’s not good.”

Max spoke so both of us could understand. “Yes, yes. You are quite right. IF that is what it is. This could be very bad.”

“Can you do anything to help? I’m counting on having a good.. no great.. crop to impress the judges and win the scholarship.”

Arabella flew up in his face. “You silly boy. You don’t understand at all.”

I had never seen her so angry. Her entire green body was turning red. “You were right to come and tell us. To warn us you said. But you are just being selfish, as you’ve always been.”

The other dragons tried to calm her down. She shooed them away. “Don’t you remember how long it took us to get him to listen and act rightly for us and for the balance of nature? Don’t you remember how he shunned us, even tried to kill us? Now he wants our help for his own narrow self concerns.” She flew away down several rows and settled on top of a large cabbage.

We were all quiet for two or three minutes.

Max tried to salvage the discussion. “Yes, Arabella was right to be angry, but that’s not going to solve the problem. And if it is what she thinks it is, it is far worse than you can imagine.”

“How bad? I asked. Max shook his head from side to side addressing his remarks to David. “You remember we told you about the stupid Leprechauns who stopped us from acting until it was too late?”

While David answered with a slow, dubious “yes,” I began to see where this might be going and I could see why Arabella, Max, and the others were expressing increasing concern. And then with a speed I had not thought possible, the dragon’s world and ours turned from concern to crisis. Hans flew in and his usual vibrant green was nearly a pale white. I didn’t even have time to form my questions before the older dragons sprang into action. They urged him to sit next to Arabella, but he kept flying up and down. He was speaking so fast that I couldn’t really understand. David looked puzzled, too. Others of the dragon leadership began to turn pale as well.

David and I sat waiting for an explanation. Soon enough Arabella and Max came over to us and were filled with questions asking David about his and the other 4H-er’s crops and their planting practices. With every question answered, the dragons became more and more thoughtful.

Finally Max was ready to explain. “You remember the stories we’ve told you about all of our struggles as nature became out of balance. Well, Hans has just come back from the fields of David and his friends. It is worse than you described. Far worse.”

David looked shocked. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t know what to look for. But I knew the dead birds were a problem.”

Arabella spoke sharply, “Problem. That’s the least of our issues. This is way more than a problem.” “You did right to come and tell us,” Max again tried to calm her down. “What is important now is that we, and the other dragon clans do what we can to stop this disease that is killing the corn and the animals that live among it. You are not alone. Over the last day we’ve been hearing stories from around the county of this kind of damage.”

David almost smiled, “So it’s not my fault, or Frank’s?”

“No, it appears not.” Arabella spoke with a tone that seemed too calm to be believed. “But we must act.”

Max began to explain, “Yes, what you have is kind of fungus that attacks the corn plant and spreads very quickly. We were able to stop an outbreak fifty years ago. But we may be too late now.”

Arabella looked over her tribe. “Yes, yes, you are right to be afraid.”

Wanting to diffuse the situation David made one of the stupider remarks I’d ever heard. “You’re dragons, right? So can’t you just go and ‘fire breath’ and kill it?”

At that, Arabella and several of the other dragons quickly got their color back. No longer panicked, they were angry and they proved me wrong. Maybe my brother wasn’t so stupid after all. Arabella was actually thinking about his suggestion. “Yes, David, that might work. We do have some who can apply that technique. But now it may be too late for us and for all of your people.”

The rest of the dragons began speaking, first in hushed tones and then louder. I could hear their chatter in my mind. I didn’t understand even a quarter of it, but the tension in their voices was unmistakable. One word was repeated over and over “hongersnood.”

I looked at Arabella and asked, “What is that word all the dragons are repeating? It sounds like ‘hongersnood’?”

It was Max who answered quickly. “It translates to ‘famine.’ And none of us have seen it in this country for years. If it happens, if we can’t stop it, it will ripple through the rest of the world, making what we’ve been fighting in Africa seem mild. Yes, famine is what we have to prevent. And we’ll be counting on you to help us as you never have before.”

Arabella’s voice rose above all the others and filled my mind. “Yes, this will take great strength of purpose and persuasion. We MUST restore the balance with nature. And you MUST help us, or all will be lost.”

I didn’t know if I had what it would take but I was sure willing to try. I’d make sure David did, too.

Chapter 2: Ripples and Butterflies To come